Another season of adult soccer at the Center of Anna Maria Island came to an end June 13 with a championship game, this time pitting No. 2 seed Progressive Cabinetry against No. 4 Ross Built.
Tim Holly opened the game’s scoring in the fifth minute to give Ross Built a 1-0 lead. The score remained 1-0 until the end of the half thanks in part to goalie Max Gazzo, who was kept busy throughout the game — finishing with 14 saves.
A little past the midway point of the second half, Leo Gonzalez notched the equalizer, knotting the game at 1-1. Neither team was able to break through, sending the game to overtime.
Both teams battled to score in the five-minute overtime before Keith Mahoney scored in the last minute on an assist from Gonzalez to give the trophy to Progressive Cabinetry.
Gonzalez paced the Progressive Cabinetry offense with a goal and an assist, while Mahoney notched the eventual game-winner. Tyler Bekkerus helped preserve the victory with eight saves in goal.
Holly notched the lone goal for Ross Built, which also received 14 saves from Gazzo and two saves from Eliza Faillace in the loss.
Pilgrimage to Nicaragua
Longtime locals Ken Bowers, son Lane, Sean Breslin, Ian McMahon and this writer — along with former area resident Matt Variot and Stuart resident Chase Kimptkon made the trek to Hacienda Iguana in Nicaragua for a week of surfing and downtime.
While the surf conditions did not turn out how they wanted, the boys managed to have a blast.
Forecasts showed they were traveling into a week of rainy days and worse — onshore winds — which tend to blow out the normally clean breaks that Playa Colorado is known for. For most of the week, the rain stayed away, but the waves weren’t up to standards. And the weekend was pretty much a complete washout.
To be fair, the boys got plenty of rides, but the Pacific Coast break was churning like a washing machine most of the week due to the constant onshore winds.
But it didn’t stop Ken Bowers from making it onto the NSR surf report webpage.
The group found other forms of entertainment to occupy their time, starting with round 1 of the Barefoot Invitational June 12. Playing a scramble, match-play format on the 2,888-yard, nine-hole course, the team of Matt Variot, Sean Breslin and this writer secured a one-up victory which was pretty much clinched by Variot’s 238-yard four-wood into the par-5 fifth hole that gave them a two-hole advantage after Breslin converted on the short birdie putt. A birdie putt by Lane Bowers on the ninth hole got them to within a hole, but the victory went to Variot, Breslin and Cassidy.
The rain pounded the area on the weekend, washing out round 2 of the Barefoot Invitational, putting a damper on the trip in the final couple of days.
But the islanders will return, no doubt.
Key Royale news
Golf action at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach got started June 10 with the men’s modified-Stableford system match. Mike Cusato lapped the field with a plus-9, five points clear of second-place finishers Rod Hammonds and Ron Vandeman.
Members played a shamble on June 13 and the team of Mike Cusato, Ed Harrell and Terry Schaefer combined on a 1-over-par 65 to earn clubhouse bragging rights for the day. The team of Dom Livedoti, Chuck Patrick and Debi Wohlers was three strokes back in second place.
Horseshoe news
Horseshoe action on June 12 at the Anna Maria City Hall pits saw two teams advance to the knockout stage to determine a champion for the day. The team of Bob Hawks and Gary Howcroft cruised to a 22-10 victory over Bob Heiger and Tom Farrington to earn the day’s bragging rights.
The June 15 games also had two teams advance to the knockouts. The team of Herb Schutt and Dom Livedoti defeated Howcroft and Tim Sofran 22-14 to earn the day’s championship.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Anna Maria pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.